From the Globe and Mail Online News (Dec 6/96)

12/6/96

Taken from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/indexes/UpdateCanada.html

Natives threaten violence after hearings disrupted

VANCOUVER
-- The Penticton Indian band isn't ruling out violence as an option to resolve its longstanding land dispute. The natives gave the warning in a report presented to the standing committee on aboriginal affairs Wednesday. "Political assassination or armed conflict may be necessary to protect the Okanagan Nation," the band said. Chief Stewart Phillip defended the language. "What we're dealing with here is the disposition of lands," Phillip said. "I don't think it's lost on anyone that since the beginning of time all major conflicts and wars have been fought over land and territory." Committee member Jack Weisgerber said he was offended by the harsh language.

The committee is travelling around British Columbia to hear submissions on the proposed Nisga'a treaty covering a land claim in northwestern British Columbia. Wednesday afternoon's hearing was thrown into chaos when a group of protesters stormed the session. The 25 native and non-native supporters hurled insults at politicians and one emptied a glass of water in the face of a woman. Another grabbed Weisgerber's nameplate as the group chanted "Shame the racist Reform party." New Democrat chairman Ian Waddell turned the floor over to the demonstrators, who spoke incoherently for 15 minutes and then left.

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Author: Stephen Samuel (samuel@bcgreen.com)
Curator: Stephen Samuel (samuel@bcgreen.com)
Last Updated: Sat Dec 14, 1996
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